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State Patrol investigating 60-car pileup in west metro

The Minnesota State Patrol is still investigating a chain-reaction crash involving about 70 vehicles near the Hopkins-Edina border.

The pileup happened shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday night along southbound Highway 169 in the west metro. Authorities say two people with serious injuries were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center.

The victims are a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman and a 47-year-old Minneapolis man. Department of Public Safety spokesman Sean McDermott says the two were on foot at the time they were struck.

"Whether they were in a car prior to being struck, we aren't clear on that at this time. But they were outside of a car at the time of being struck and sustaining their serious injuries," says McDermott.

It's not known which vehicles started the crash or which vehicles struck the pedestrians.

There's speculation that slippery roads contributed to the accident, but McDermott says the investigation will take some time.

"There's a possibility of several different crashes, not just one crash. It's several incidents that they have to record separately."

McDermott says the State Patrol is prepared for these kinds of multi-car crashes.

"This is not a case that happens frequently, but it does happen. If you remember earlier on in this winter season -- which has now been extended into April -- we had a crash on Interstate 35 that was a 40-car pileup. That involved several semis and several injuries. So it does happen," he says.

McDermott says the State Patrol is still trying to get an exact count of how many vehicles were involved and how many people were hurt.